Fluid dispenser



March 4, 1941. T. w. MILLER 2,234,079

FLUID DISPEWSER Filed Dec. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tho mabwMifler.INVLMTOK March 4, 1941. T. w. MILLER FLUID DISFENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVNTOR M E fi/ww ATToRwrss ThwmWMill r Filed Dec. 9, 1938 Patented Mar.4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID DISPENSER Thomas W. Miller,Ashland, Ohio, assignor to The Faultless Rubber Company, Ashland, Ohio,a corporation of Ohio Application December 9, 1938, Serial No. 244,809

8 Claims. (01. 21574) My invention relates to fluid dispensers, morerubber. The body 20 has a, circular part 2| particularly to combinedclosures and fluid disfitting Within t e recess 0f the p meehs' pensersfor containers, and the principal object ill, and an annular downwardlytapering P of my invention is to provide new and improved 22 closelyfitting the inclined wall iii of the devices of this character.projection ll. The tapering part 22 leads to a In the drawingsaccompanying this specificacylindrical part 23 which is disposedintermetlen, and forming a part of this application, I diate thetapering part 22 and an annular flange have shown, for purposes ofillustration, embodi- 24. The flange 24 bears against the shoulder mentswhich my invention may assume, and in t? Of the cap means and thus holdsthe y .o these drawings: 20 assembled with the cap means Hi. The lowerFigure 1 is a side elevational view of an emsurface of the flange 24tapers downwardly to bodiment of my invention applied to a bottl providea sealing surface 25. The upper part Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical of the body is provided with a central downsectional view ofthe embodiment shown in Fig- Werdly inclined recess 27, Which isSurrounded l5 ure by a substantially fiat annular surface 28. The

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, body is formed with anaperture extending cenomitting the bottle, and showing the partscomtrally therethrough, and this aperture communiprising the embodimentin separated r lati cates with the recess 21, and has an enlarged andadditionally showing means closing the disd w wa dly t p in p t n 9 r inw or :0 penser opening, cylindrical portion 30. 99

Figure is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, A180 Carried by the lmeans to is a bulb showing certain parts in the r l ti assumed means 3|,preferably formed of relatively soft when the dispenser is sealed,resilient rubber. The bulb means 3| has a skirt Figure 5 is a sideelevational view, illustrating portion 32, open t i l w nd, and havin :5a different embodiment of my invention applied a relatively planesurface 33 at this open end,

to a bottle, and an annular groove 34 spaced slightly from Figure 6 isan enlarged fragmentary ti the plane surface 33. The skirt 32 mergeswith sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figa dome-Shaped portion35, the thickness of this We dome-shaped portion being less than thethick- 3%) Figure '7 is a sectional view similar to Figure ness of theskirt portion 32, and the connection 0 6, omitting the bottle, andshowing the parts of the ap d portion 35 with h sk t p rcomprising theinvention in separated relation, tion 32 is formed as shown at 36 tofacilitate flexand ing at this point. The dome-shaped portion 35 Figure8 is a Sectional View corresponding genis provided with a centrallylocated downwardly 35' erally to the line 8-8 of Figure 6, but showingng valve member 31, prefera ly integrel- 35 the Valve in unseatedrelation, ly formed with the bulb means 3|, and an up- The embodiment ofthe invention shown in Figy eXtending knob preferably extending ures 1through 4 comprises cap means Ill, formed integral y from the outersurface of the domeof substantially rigid material, preferably hardshaped portion .4) rubber or the like. The cap means It] h a PositionedoiT-center with respect to the bulb o skirt portion II, which may haveits exterior means and preferably integrally nected surface roughened asby the fluting shown at l2 therewith, is an up bOSS e bOSS 39v in Figure1, and the skirt portion may be proas herein shown, has its axissomewhat inclined vided with screw-threads l3 formed on its inh respectto the axis of the bulb means 3|.

4'5 terior surface. The top wall of the cap means and iS Provided Withan aperture 40. During- I0 is apertured, and has an annular lip [4overmanufacture 0fv the bulb meehe the p e hanging an annular recess IS,the wall defining 49 may be'formed with-its extremity C S P the recessl5 merging with a downwardly inerably y a integrally f r d p us hownclined top wall [3 of an inwardly extending anin Figure 3. This plug 4|may be removed to 50' nular projection 11, the lower wall of thepro-jecp ov e for flow through the p e as y 50 tion I! beingsubstantially flat and providing a cutting off this plug. by means of aknife or scisshoulder l8. The projection I! is apertured as sors, whenthe dispenser is ready for use. Figshown at H]. ures 1, 2, and 4- showthe bulb means 3| with the A body 20 is carried by the cap means It),and plug removed. 5' is preferably formed of relatively soft resilientTo assemble the parts hereinbefore described,

the bulb means 3| is preferably secured to the .body 29 in fluid-tightrelation, and this may be efiected by connecting the plane surface 33 ofthe bulb means 3| to the plane surface 28 of the body 29 by means of asuitable cement or the like, thus forming a unitary structure whichincludes the bulb means 3| and the body 25. This unitary structureprovides a chamber 42, defined by the inner walls of the bulb means 3|and the upper surface of the body 20. The unitary structure may beassembled with the cap means lo by inserting the lower end of the body25 through the aperture |9 in the cap means Ii an amount necessary topass the flange 24 through the aperture l9. The'upper surface of theflange 24 then yieldably engages the shoulder l8 of the cap means ID asshown in Figures 2 and 4, and thus provides a fluid-tight connectionbetween the unitary structure and the cap means it]. At the same time,the lip I4 of the cap means |9 seats in the groove 34 of the bulb means3|,-thus assisting to hold the bulb means 3| and 'thebody 20 assembledwith the cap means" It. The flange 24 and shoulder 8, and the groove 34and the lip l4, are'so constructed and arranged that plane surfaces 28and 33 of the body 29 and bulb means 3| respectively, are pressedtightlytogether, and if desired, the cement joining these plane surfaces may beomitted, so that the body 20 and the bulb means 3| may be assembledindividually with the cap means In.

The combined closure and dispenser thus formed is adapted to cover theopening 43 of a container 44, such as the bottle herein shown.Thecontainer 44 may have a neck 45 surrounding the opening 43, and thisneck 45 may be provided with exteriorscrew-threads 46 adapted to engagewith the interior screw-threads |3 of the cap means I 9, and in thismanner hold the combined closure and dispenser in position on thecontainer.

The dome-shaped portion 35 of the bulb means 3| is capable oi movementto the position shown in Figure 2, or to the position shown in Figure 4,

the dome-shaped portion 35 and its connection with the skirt portion 32being so constructed and arranged that the dome-shaped portion isyieldably held in either'position. In the position shown in Figure 2,the dome-shaped portion 35 is in an extended relation with respect tothe skirt portion 32, and in this position the valve member 31 providesfor flow of fluid from the container 44, through the aperture in thebody 20, to thechamber 42, and through and outwardly of the aperture 49in the boss 39. The dome-shaped portion 35 may be moved to the positionshown in Figure 4, by the application of pressure, such as downwardpressure of a finger on the knob 38, thus forcing the dome-shapedportion 35 to a retroverted position with respect to the skirt portion32, and after the dome-shaped portion 35 has been moved downwardly apredetermined amount;

it will snap to its position shown in Figure 4, and will be resilientlyheld in this position. In the position shown in Figure 4, the valvemember 31 enters the aperture in the body 29, and engages the definingsurface. of the tapered portion 29 in sealing relation, thus preventingfluid from the container to flow to the chamber 42; 'To move '1 thedome-shaped portion 35 from the position shown in Figure 4 to thepositionshown in Figure 2. auser may grasp the knob 3;8 and pullupwardly on this knob, and the dome-shaped por-" tion 35, after it hasbeen moved upwardlya predetermined amount, will snap to its extendedposition shown in Figure 2.

To operate the dispenser, assuming that the parts are properly assembledand in the position shown in Figure 2, and assuming also that thecontainer 44 contains a suitable fluid, such as a perfume, a medicinalliquid, or the like, it is merely necessary to invert the container 44,and permit the fluid to gravitate to the chamber 42 and outwardly of theaperture 49 in the boss 39. In some instances it may be necessary toslightly jiggle the container in order to permit air to enter thecontainer through the aperture 49 in the boss 39, so that fluid may flowfrom the container. After a required amount of fluid has been dispensed,the user may apply pressure to the knob 38, as by pushing with a fingeron this knob, .to move the dome-shaped portion 35 to itsretrovertedposition, and in this position the valve member 31 seals the opening inthe body 20, and thus prevents fluid flow from the container 44.However, it is preferable to return the container 44 to its uprightposition before moving the dome-shaped portion 3'5 to its retrovertedposition, so that any unused fluid in the chamber 42 may drain along thewalls of the recess 21, through the aperture in .the body 29,'and backinto the container 44. In this manner, after the dome-shaped member 35is moved to the position shown in Figure 4,

objectionable leaking of unused fluid from the chamber 42 is prevented.

- Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures through 8, the embodimenttherein illustrated comprises cap means 41, formed of substantiallyrigid material, preferably hard rubber or the like. The cap means 41 isformed substantially like the cap means to hereinbefore described, andhas a skirt portion 48 formed with interior screw-threads 49. The topwall of the cap means 41 is apertured, and has an annular lip 59overhanging an annular recess 5|, the wall defining the recess 5|merging with a downwardly inclined top wall 52 of an inwardly extendingannular projection 53, the lower wall projection being substantiallyfiat and providing a shoulder 54. The projection 53' is apertured asshown at 55.

A body 56, substantially similar to the body 20 hereinbefore described,is carried by the cap means 41, and is preferably formed of softresilient rubber. The body 58-. has a circular part 51 fitting withinthe recess 5| of the cap means 41, and an annular downwardly taperingpart 58, a flange 59, and a downwardly tapering part 60 extending fromthe flange 59, similar to the part 22, flange 24, and part 25respectively of the body 29, and the body 56 fits the respective partsof the cap means 41 substantially similar to the manner hereinbeforedescribed in the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 through 4. The upperpart of the body 56 is provided with a central downwardly inclined drainrecess 6|, which is surrounded by a substantially flat annular surface62. The body 56 is provided with an aperture extending centrallytherethrough, and this aperture communicates with the recess BI, and.has an enlarged portion 63, a reduced portion 64, and an undercutgroove65 intermediate these portions. v

A bulb means 56 is carried by the cap means 41, and is preferably formedof relatively soft resilient rubber. The bulb means 55 has a skirtportion 61, open at its lower end, and having a relatively plane surface68 at this open end, and

an annular groove. 69 spaced from the plane surdome-shaped portion iii,the thickness of this dome-shaped portion being less than the thicknessof the skirt portion 67, and the connection of the dome-shaped portioniii with the skirt portion 35 is formed as shown at 7 i to facilitateflexing at this point. The dome-shaped portion 10 has a projection 72extending inwardly of the bulbmeans (it, and this projection is recessedas shown at 73. A valve member M is carried by the domeshaped portioniii, and comprises an elongated stem '55 extending through the aperturein the body 56, one extremity of the stem fitting within the recess i3formed in the projection 12 and being yieldably grasped by the surfacedefining the recess l3, and the other extremity of the stem beingprovided with an enlargement it; having a tapering surface Ti adapted toengage the surfaces defining the lower end of the aperture portion 64 ofthe body 58 in sealing relation.

Positioned off-center with respect to the bulb means es, and preferablyintegrally connected therewith, is an upright boss 78, which isapertured to receive the lower reduced end 19 of a nozzle 8%, theaperture of the boss 18 being continued through the skirt portion, asshown at 8!, to communicate with the interior of the bulb means (55. Thenozzle Si is preferably formed of rubber, and is provided with anaperture 32, and this aperture may be closed by a plug similar to theintegral plug M hereinbefore described.

To assemble the parts comprising the embodiment shown in Figures 5through 8, the bulb means 55, body 58, and the cap means 61, may beassembled in a manner similar to that described in connection with theembodiment shown in Figures 1 through 4, and when assembled, the bulbmeans 65 and body 5% provide a chamber 83. The stem of the valve memberM may be inserted through the aperture in the body 56, and its extremitymay be seated within the recess 13 of the projection '52. t will benoted that the length of the stem 15 is so proportioned that when theextremity of the stem i5 is properly disposed within the recess 13 ofthe projection 12, the tapering surface Tl engages the lower end of thebody 56 in sealing relation when the dome-shaped portion ill assumes theshape shown in Figure 6. The reduced extremity E9 of the nozzle may beinserted into the aperture of the boss 18 at any convenient time duringassembly operation.

The combined closure and dispenser thus formed is adapted to cover theopening 84 of a container 85, such as the bottle herein shown. Thecontainer 35 may have a neck 88 provided with exterior screw-threads 81adapted to cooperate with the interior screw-threads 49 of the cap means47, and in this manner hold the combined closure and dispenser inposition on the container.

To operate the dispenser, assuming that the parts are assembled in themanner shown in Figure 6, and that the container contains a suitablefluid, it is merely necessary to invert the container 85, and to presson the dome-shaped portion iii, as by means of a finger as shown inFigure 8, so that the tapered portion ii of the valve member M is movedfrom the lower end of the body 55, thus permitting fluid from thecontainer to gravitate into the chamber 83, and through and outwardly ofthe aperture 82 in the nozzle 88. As before, it may sometimes benecessary to slightly jiggle the bottle to permit air to enter thebottle. Removal of the pressing force from the dome-shaped portion 10permits the dome-shaped portion iii to resiliently move from the shapeshown in Figure 8 back to its normal shape shown in Figure 6, so as toseat the valvemember and thereby prevent any further fluid flow from thecontainer 85. Any unused fluid. within the chamber 83 is preferablypermitted to drain along the inclined walls of the recess. 6! back.through the aperture in the body 56 and into the container 85, as byrighting the container 85 and holding the valve member 14 in openposition.

The invention herein disclosed, provides a combined closure and fluiddispenser which may be easily manufactured and assembled, and may beused for a variety of purposes. The parts comprising the closure anddispenser, if desired, may be of different colors, to provide anattractive appearance.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatI have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention, andit also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theembodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified,without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that theinvention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specificallydescribed; hence it will be appreciated that the heroin disclosedembodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limitedthereto. 1

I claim:

1. Closure means for a container, comprising: bulb means, connectable tothe container adjacent the container opening, and having a skirt portionand a Wall portion capable of being moved to retroverted or extendedpositions with respect to said skirt portion and including meanspreventing flow of substance from the container when said wall portionis in retroverted position and providing for flow of substance from thecontainer when said wall portion is in extended position, said wallportion being so constructed and arranged that movement from oneposition to another is accompanied by a snap action.

2. Closure means for a container, comprising:

cap means, engageable with the container adjaranged as to provide a sealbetween the connection of said cap means with the container, saidsealing means having an opening through which substance from thecontainer may pass; bulb means forming a chamber communicating with saidsealing means opening, the chamber having an opening through whichsubstance from the container may be dispensed, said bulb means includinga skirt portion connected to said cap means and a wall portion capableof being moved to retroverted or extended positions with respect to saidskirt portion, said wall portion being so constructed and arranged thatit is movable from one position to another with a snap action and isyieldably held in said other position; and valve means, carried by saidwall portion, so constructed and arranged as to close the opening insaid sealing means when said wall portion is in retroverted position,and to uncover said opening when said wall portion is in extendedposition.

3. A dispensing closure for a container, having means engageable withthe container for holding the closure in position on the container, andhaving also a resilient bulb forming a chamber which is adapted to be incommunication with the interior of the container, said bulbhaving a wallportion that maybe moved from its extended position to a retroverseposition and return, and said bulb being so constructed and ar-' rangedthat said wall portion is urged toone or the other of said positionswhen said wall portion passes through a median or neutral position, saidwall portion carrying a valve member so constructed and arranged that inthe retroverse position-of said wall portion it operates to closecommunication between said chamber and the interior of the container,and in the extended position of said wall portion it operates to opencommunication between said chamber and the interior of the container.

4. A dispensing closure for a container, comprising: cap means,engageable with the neck of the container for holding the closure inposition on the container; sealing means, of resilient material, carriedwithin said cap means, and engageable with the container neck in sealingrelation, said sealing means having a passageway therethrough; a bulbformed of resilient material, and carried by the top of said cap means,said bulb providing a chamber which communicates with the interior ofthe container through the passageway in said sealing means, and saidbulb having a wall portion that may be moved from its extended positionto a retroverse position and return, said bulb being so constructed andarranged that said wall portion is urged to one or the other of saidpositions when said wall portion passes through a median or neutralpositiongand said wall portion carrying a stopper so constructed andarranged that in the retro-verse position of said wall portion it fitsinto and closes the passageway in said sealing means.

5. Closure means for a container, comprising: cap means, having a skirtportion constructed to engage the container adjacent the opening intothe container, and having also an apertured top wall, and groove meansformed about the interior of said skirt portion; means forming a chamberwith said cap means, and having .a resilient flange extending throughsaid top wall aperture and peripherally fitting said groove means butoccupying only a portion of the cross-sectional extent of said groovemeans, said chamber having an opening through which substance from thecontainer may be dispensed, and including a movable wall portion;sealing means, constructed and arranged to seal the connection of saidcap means with the container, and having an aperture providing forpassage of substance from the container tosaid chamber, and having alsoa resilient flange peripherally fitting said groove means and soconstructed that it closely occupies the remainder of thecross-sectional extent of said groove means and abuts the flange of saidchamber forming means in sealing relation, thereby preventing passage ofsubstance out wardly from the container other than through said sealingmeans aperture to said chamber; and valve means carried by said wallportion, so constructed and arranged that by movement with said wallportion it controls communication be:

- tween said chamber and the interior of the con tainer.

6. Closure means for a container having a neck surrounding itsopeningcomprising: cap means, having a skirt portion constructed toengage about the container neck, and having also an top wall apertureand peripherally fitting said groove means but occupying only a portionof the cross-sectional extent of said groove means, said chamber havingan opening through which substance from the container may be dispensed,and said bulb means having a wall portion movable to differentpositions; sealing means, formed of resilient material, and having aportion constructed to be clamped between a portion of said cap meansand the lip of the container neck, said sealing means having an apertureproviding for passage of substance from the container to said chamber,and having also an integral flange peripherally fitting said groovemeans and so constructed that it closely occupies the remainder of thecross-sectional extent of said groove means and abuts the flange of saidbulb means in sealing relation, thereby preventing passage of substanceoutwardly from the container other than through said sealing meansaperture to said chamber; and valve means carried by said Wall portion,so constructed and arranged that depending upon the position of saidWall portion, it prevents or permits passage of substance through saidsealing means aperture.

7. Closure means for a container having a neck surrounding its openingcomprising: cap means, having a skirt portion constructed to engageabout the container neck, and having also an apertured top wall, andannular groove means formed about the interior of said skirt portion;bulb, means formed of resilient material, and forming a chamber withsaid cap means, and having an integral flange extending through said topwall aperture and peripherally fitting said groove means but occupyingonly a portion of the cross-sectional extent of said groove means, saidchamber having an opening through which substance from the container maybe dispensed, and said bulb means having a wall portion so constructedthat it may be moved from an extended position to a retroverse positionand return, and said bulb means being so constructed and arranged thatsaid wall portion is urged to one or the other of said positions whensaid Wall portion passes through a median or vertical position; sealingmeans, formed of resilient material, and having a portion constructed tobe clamped between a portion of said cap means and the lip of thecontainer neck, said sealing means having an aperture providing forpassage of substance from the container to said chamber, and having alsoan integral flange peripherally fitting said groove means and soconstructed that it closely occupies the remainder of the crosssectionalextent of said groove means and abuts the flange of said bulb means insealing relation, thereby preventin passage of substance outwardly fromthe container other than through said sealing means aperture to saidchamber; and valve means carried by said wall portion, so constructedand arranged that in retroverse position of said wall portion said valvemeans closes passage through said sealing means aperture, and inextended position of said wall portion said valve means provides forpassage through said sealing means aperture.

. 8. Closure means for a container having a neck surrounding its openingcomprising: cap means,

having a skirt portion constructed to engage about the container neck,and having also an apertured top wall, and annular groove means formedabout the interior of said skirt portion; bulb means formed of resilientmaterial, and

forming a chamber with said cap means, and having an integral flangeextending through said top wall aperture and peripherally fitting saidgroove means but occupying only a portion of the cross-sectional extentof said groove means, said chamber having an opening through whichsubstance from the container may be dispensed, and said bulb meanshaving a wall portion resiliently urged to a predetermined portion, butmovable from such position by the application of manual force; sealingmeans, formed of resilient material, and having a portion constructed tobe clamped between a portion of said cap means and the lip of thecontainer neck, said sealing means having an aperture providing forpassage of substance from the container to said chamber, and having alsoan integral flange peripherally fitting said groove means and soconstructed that it closely occupies the remainder of thecross-sectional extent of said groove means and abuts the flange of saidbulb means in sealing relation, thereby preventing passage of substanceoutwardly from the container other than through said sealing meansaperture to said chamber; and valve means carried by said Wall portion,so constructed and. arranged that when said wall portion is in saidpredetermined position said valve means closes passage through saidsealing means aperture, and when said wall portion is moved from saidpredetermined position said vale means provides for passage through saidsealing means aperture. 15

THOMAS W. MILLER.

